Proposed constitution for Sri Lanka Cricket submitted to President Ranil Wickremesinghe

Proposed constitution for Sri Lanka Cricket submitted to President Ranil Wickremesinghe, aiming to bring significant reforms in cricket governance. The draft constitution for the Sri Lanka Cricket Board, meticulously prepared by the Judge Chitrasiri Committee, was formally presented to President Ranil Wickremesinghe at the Presidential Secretariat on June 15.

Its primary focus was twofold. Firstly, to elevate administration, training, and the welfare of players within the national men’s and women’s teams. Secondly, there would be a concerted effort towards prioritizing the restructuring of the composition and organizational structure of the Sri Lanka Cricket Institute.

The recommendations encompassed several critical domains, including the composition and organizational framework of the Sri Lanka Cricket Board, administration, training protocols, and the holistic welfare of players across various tiers, including national men’s and women’s teams, and youth levels such as U19 and U17 categories. Emphasis was placed on fostering good governance, transparency, professionalism, and accountability throughout Sri Lanka Cricket. Furthermore, proposals were advanced to overhaul the nutritional infrastructure of Sri Lankan cricket at school, district, provincial, and community levels, with a focus on meritocracy, equity, and impartiality.

The aforementioned proposals can be attributed to a downturn in performance observed in both the Sri Lanka men’s and women’s teams. The men’s team faced an early exit in the group stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024, while the women’s team currently holds the 7th position in both the ICC Women’s T20I and ODI Team Rankings, amidst various other challenges.

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The draft was delivered by the Committee Chairman, retired Supreme Court Judge K.T. Chitrasiri, alongside other esteemed committee members.

In response to the challenges confronting Sri Lanka Cricket, and with the aim of providing pertinent recommendations, a Cabinet Sub-Committee was constituted on November 6, 2023.

Led by Minister of Foreign Affairs and President’s Counsel Ali Sabry, the sub-committee comprised Minister of Power and Energy Kanchana Wijesekara, Minister of Labour and Foreign Employment Manusha Nanayakkara, and Minister of Public Security Tiran Alles. Following thorough consultations with cricket stakeholders, the sub-committee submitted its findings to the Cabinet on January 8, 2024.